Something out of Nothing

I have several family members that crochet. Some knit and crochet, and their skill never ceases to amaze me. I have watched in awe while they have taken what really just amounted to a single long thread and created scarves, hats, mittens, sweaters, and even coats! I have mentioned many times that what they do often seems magical to me. Using their skill and know-how, it almost seems that they create something out of nothing.
  As writers, do we do any less? We use our skills and know-how to face down a blank page and fill it with words meant to convey feelings, images, and ideas. One page often becomes more, with the words coalescing into poems, short stories, articles, books, etc. It can seem magical.
  But, the magic is only an illusion of course, because as the person who is crocheting a blanket or capelet knows, just like the person hard at work on a poem, story or article, it's work! The creative process, the melding together of ideas, dreams, and the physical tools needed to bring those dreams, etc. to fruition very often involves copious amounts of the proverbial blood, sweat, and tears.
  It is the illusion of creating something out of nothing that makes writing such a controversial career choice sometimes, as folks looking in from the outside may not understand the process.
  I guess what I'm trying to say is that regardless of what it may look like, writing is hard work! We so often do create magic when we write, building worlds and touching hearts with words painstakingly put together with skill and even love. In effect, making something out of nothing. A poem, a story, a novel, an essay, onto blank sheets of paper as empty and formless as a deep, dense fog. We as writers work up the nerve to reach into the unknown depths in order to put our thoughts and ideas down where they are then open to critique and vulnerable to opinion.
  Because thats what we do. We make something out of nothing.

I recently participated in Comite Noviembre's Puerto Rican Artisan Fair & Book Expo at Hostos Community College. It was such a refreshingly positive and powerfully energizing experience!
  The downstairs area was filled with visual artists of all types with exquisite paintings, sculptures, and more adorning the many artist's tables. Meanwhile upstairs, authors proudly stood by tables that displayed their literary work. Practically all of the genres were represented. It was a heady and exciting experience to be surrounded by so many talented and creative people of Latino(a) lineage. A perfect example of this are the enormously talented and effervescent Dania Ramos and her husband Mike. These two folks exuded creativity, energy, and positivity. Not to mention graciousness and class.
  I was also lucky enough to run into extremely talented and stalwart fellow authors Theresa Varela and Manuel Melendez. And of course Maria Aponte was there inspiring everyone with her own creative spark and energy!  Olga Huraira Ayala was there with her AWESOME artwork, as was Luis Cordero Santoni; lending his strength and wisdom to the attendees.
  Sorry if I missed anyone, but believe me when I say that it was a dynamic day that I won't soon forget. I can barely wait 'til next year!
Meanwhile, I encourage you to check out these books and their authors. Books make wonderful Christmas presents!

Write like nobody's watching...

There's an old saying, "Dance like nobody's watching."  I really like that old piece of wisdom and what it signifies. It means that we should embrace our joy and let go our encumbrances, our fears, our self-doubts and our insecurities.  We should shed the constraints of self-consciousness and just celebrate life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.  In the bible it says that King David was so overjoyed that he danced non-stop until he danced right out of his clothes!

  When you write, you should do so unencumbered by the constraints of conventional wisdom, societal mores, or the opinions of critics, cousins, crazies, or nosy neighbors. Dance with your muse and avoid the accusatory gaze of folks who think they know better. Spread your wings, let your talent and your imagination take flight... and write like nobody's watching!

The Anti-Writer

Writers write. Okay, that's true. But the writing process itself often involves several actions, the nuances of which can be lost on the casual observer, and so lead to the casual observer thinking that the writer is free to be engaged at the moment. The observer then tries to involve the writer in conversation or activities which would unknowingly interfere with the writer's writing process.
  This misunderstanding of the writer's process can lead to hurt feelings, arguments, strife, anxiety... and it lead to spouses, friends, partners, or even children becoming The Anti-Writer!
  Writers tend to be thinkers, and thinking can often involve staring out a window or at a blank computer screen for hours. A writer can, and will, excitedly write down or blurt out an idea before settling down and gnawing on this same idea for hours or even days trying to get it just right.
  To someone on the outside looking in, it seems that the writer has a lot of free time on their hands. So folks that don't quite "get it" will want to share in that "free time."
  Thus friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances, spouses, partners, lovers, fellow commuters, curious onlookers and just plain talkative, gregarious people become the Anti-Writer by unknowingly stepping into the path between a writer and their muse.
  So what's a writer to do? Well, as I've mentioned before, a writer should set aside a time and place where they would regularly do their writing and thinking, and then sit down with loved ones and explain that when they are ensconced in this place at that time, they are WORKING and shouldn't be disturbed. Easy? No. Necessary? Only if you're serious about your writing.
  What about those fellow commuters and co-workers, etc.? There's nothing you can probably do about the world at large at this point, so try to be zen about it and just chalk it up to life. And, just keep writing.

Writer's Curse?

Ugh, I've been up since four this morning! I've never been a morning person, and I'm even less of a morning person since I've retired. I'm not going fishing this morning, nor am I headed to the airport to jet away to some sun-drenched exotic locale. No, my muse figured she'd have a little fun at my expense and woke me up at this wretched hour with an intriguing (did I spell that right? Sorry, I told you that I'm not a morning person) idea.
  Oh believe me I fought her tooth and nail, tossing and turning in my nice warm cocoon of blankets until finally, with a groan I admitted defeat and rose to jot down this latest revelation from my apparently sleepless muse.
  Now I'm laying here, my mind all a-jumble with electric ideas, dialogues, and characters caring not about my want and need of sleep as they commune, interact and collide loudly with each other. We've all heard of and experienced writer's block, but could this be some sort of Writer's Curse? Could this be some sort of condition unique to creative types wherein the mind never truly rests, but is in constant flux; overflowing, overtaxed, overwhelmed with ideas, structure, paths, memories, and so much more hurtling along screaming rails until you finally give in with a groan and a whoosh of your mental air brakes? Maybe.
  But I wouldn't have it any other way. Except, maybe just a little later in the day? Please?